Dos
- Do stop smoking — this is the single most effective step to prevent progression
Reinke's Oedema
Consultant-led diagnosis and treatment for Reinke's oedema, a swelling of the vocal cords strongly linked to smoking.
What is the condition?
Reinke's oedema is a build-up of gelatinous fluid in the superficial layer of the vocal cords, causing them to become swollen and floppy. It is very strongly associated with long-term smoking, and is more common in women, in whom it often produces a noticeably deeper voice.
Symptoms
What to look out for?
The voice becomes progressively lower in pitch and rougher, particularly in long-term smokers.
- A persistently deep, gravelly voice
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath in more advanced cases, as swelling can narrow the airway
Treatment
What can be done?
Stopping smoking is the essential first step and can prevent further progression. Established swelling that significantly affects the voice or airway is treated with microlaryngoscopy to remove the excess fluid.
- Smoking cessation
- Microlaryngoscopy to reduce the swelling
Prevention
What should I do?
Don'ts
- Don't expect surgery alone to be effective without stopping smoking, as the swelling can recur